BEIJING - China's capital is stepping up a campaign against foreign espionage from Monday, offering rewards ranging from US$1,500 to $73,000 to citizens who blow the whistle on suspected spies, state media said. Since taking office in 2013, President Xi Jinping has overseen a raft of laws and campaigns to secure China's national security against both domestic and foreign threats. The "pressing" need for new measures to guard against foreign spies is an unfortunate side-effect of China's reform and opening up to the world, the official Beijing Daily newspaper said. The Beijing City National Security Bureau is encouraging citizens to join counterintelligence efforts, by offering rewards of 10,000 to 500,000 yuan ($1,500 to $73,000) for information on spies, it said. China says the laws are fitting, given the reality of its national security concerns.

Source: Bangkok Post April 10, 2017 03:45 UTC